Estes Park Opinion

Letters to the Editor -The 76th anniversary of Pearl Harbor

Posted:
12/01/2017 10:05:23 AM MST

From generation to generation time changes the world...from telegraphing the Morse code to texting; the concept of travel to/from distant, remote lands to exploring unknown places of space. Yet, some things will never change. History and memories of life experiences will never change nor be forgotten! Perhaps they will never be fully understood for the generations to come, but history is history... not always a pretty sight but will always be remembered and told by those who experienced it.

I was seven years old on that fateful Sunday in December. It was evening time when the family gathered in front of the large Philco radio to listen to our favorite - Fibber McGee and Molly. Then, an interruption in the program with an announcement reporting the surprise attack by the Japanese having bombed the US Navy fleet and airplanes at Pearl Harbor in the early morning hours. I was an innocent child. What is war?... that word was not in my vocabulary. I had no idea where Hawaii was. Basically, I knew nothing of the world but soon realized that day, December 7, 1941, a life changing event took place.

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The following morning, arriving at school after a long bus ride, our entire school walked in silence to a near-by church. There we recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America; we were led in prayer and sang hymns...and were told the bits and pieces our teachers knew and understood of the situation across the Pacific. Through the static of the radio we heard President Roosevelt, with the approval of Congress, declare war on Japan...the United States' entry to World War II... "a date which will live in infamy".

Fast forward thirty-four years when we visited Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial for our first time. Those gathered for the boat ride to the Memorial consisted of Hawaiians, Japanese and Americans, most of them of the older generation. The emotions of the group were tears and low murmurs. For each one, this was a memory of love lost...a father, son, husband, brother, friend - on both sides of the aisle, so to speak.

A year or two has passed since we visited the Arizona once again, for at least the twentieth time. Some things have changed thru the years... yet the one thing - the main reason for being there - has not changed. The overall effect is a time of respect... a tribute of valor, honoring those who are entombed there. For some, the visit is a lifetime goal...for some, confirmation that life goes on...for some, to read a family member's name on the wall...for all, to know and remember zhistory.

The names of the 1,177 sailors and Marines killed on the USS Arizona during the Japanese surprise attack are the same. Oil leaking from the submerged hull, referred to as "the tears of the Arizona", still rises to the surface...tears and low murmurs are still the silent emotions after seventy-six years.

History...The Day of Infamy...Lest we forget.

Pat Newsom

Estes Park

Tyranny of the Minority

Whoa there, Trail Gazette! Let's set the record straight regarding this greedy tax and spend tax levy variance that was passed by 192 people in the PSDR3 school district.

During Todd Jirsa's tenure and under his direct leadership, PSDR3 Superintendent Chapman gutted the highly qualified staff K-12 staff purging highly qualified, experienced Teachers whom she didn't like. Euphemistically described as managed attrition, Jirsa approved and oversaw purging of highly paid, loyal teachers to meet budget cuts. This enabled the district to replace qualified, experienced teachers with strong roots in the Estes Valley to be replaced with the least experienced, lowest paid teachers possessing minimal years of classroom credentials.

Second, again to meet budget cuts, the Jirsa-Chapman regime literally gutted and eliminated all vocation-technical programs in PSDR3 while patting themselves on their political backs for making their numbers. The impact on students and instructors was tertiary to their making their budgets. During this period of dramatic change and reductions, our taxes were not reduced.

The current PSDR3 Administration then comes forward to tax and spend for raising Teacher salaries ("to be competitive") and reinstate vo-tech programs. Then with the help of 192 voters, a full 40% of whom aid and abet illegal undocumented students, they gain authorization to put their hands in my pocket for $1,000+ ad infinitum. This is wrongful and un-American. This is classic Tyranny of the Minority.

"But it is for a good cause, the future of our children." FACT - On their best day, PSDR3 produces students who are mediocre and barely able to compete for global jobs i.e. the US ranks 38th/24th in math science Pew Research Center Feb 2017. The state of CO ranks only 15th in the US. (US News 2017) Within the state of CO PSDR3 ranks 64th. Do the math yourself. PSDR3 students are average at best and minimally qualified to compete in the new economy. This is appalling.

More reality based facts: PSDR3 grads are well below 50% levels in the College Readiness Index 42%, Math Proficiency 18%, and English Proficiency 40% (US News 2017). An honest audit of the BoE's E5 program (excellent education experience, every student, every day) dictates the entire board and Superintendent should be terminated for cause.

To put an extra million dollars into the hands of a dysfunctional, below standard school district is inane. I honestly don't know which situation is worst? The numbers driven Jirsa-Chapman or the clueless Walker-Rosenkrance administration.A million dollars for mediocrity education makes no sense.

I'll tell you one thing, though. Knowing that the Jirsa-Lancaster axis of power is now manipulating Estes Park should keep every voter sleepless and worrying at night. The EP good ol'boy network where might and ego, backroom deals, and blatant misogynistic behavior (see VEP proceedings) rule needs to be exposed and eradicated.

Is the TG going to be part of the solution or part of the problem?

Lynden Von Chromer, Esq.

Estes Park

Bring our Town Back

As a very unhappy Estes resident, I feel the obligation to discuss a problem to which our town leaders appear impervious or reluctant to address in any meaningful way. Within a short time frame (last two years), our cozy little town has become unbearable with the influx of too many tourists. Weekends, holidays, and summer months have made Estes Park unbearable to residents. The traffic noise at my house is mind-numbing. While crowing has always been a problem in years past, now it has become intolerable. With this in mind, I offer the following suggestions to help mediate this problem:

1)Stop holding festivals, concerts, parades, and markets smack in the middle of town. This only festers an already untenable parking situation. Find another venue such as the fairgrounds.

2)Move the Post Office out of the middle of town. Again, this is a ridiculous place to have residents fight with tourists for grossly limited parking spots and crowded streets.

3)Work with food retailers to build a shopping center on the far outskirts of town that has sufficient parking. The existing Safeway is unreachable and its parking is near non-existent.

4)Work with the Park Service to discourage visitors. The proposed increase in visitor fees is a good place to start (contrary to our Mayor's opinion). Similar to down town, the Park suffers from a lack of parking and too many visitors.

5)Work with State and Feds to plan a southern bypass that will shoot Park visitors around town, without making them drive through the middle of town. The existing re-routing plan is a joke.

I don't doubt that retailers are driving the current insanity, but the rest of us in town are fed up with it.

Carl Cross

Estes Park

EVICS thanks community for support

The wild rumpus was a wild success! Thank you to all who came out to support early childhood programs, young children, and families at EVICS' 2nd Annual Art Gala Fundraising event held on November 3rd at the Trout Haven Event Center. Throughout the evening, smiling faces were seen enjoying the art created by our youngest community members. Silent Auction items continued to impress this year with beautiful pieces from many local artists. And the EVICS Giving Tree gave guests the opportunity to support specific program needs, such as childcare scholarships, professional development materials, preschool music classes, and supplies for home visits.

Thanks to a generous $10,000 matching challenge created by donors Peggy and John Lynch, Freddy and Mary Frankel, Donna and Paul Newendorp, Susan and Mark Newendorp, and other anonymous donors, every dollar raised at the Art Gala was matched, netting over $20,000 total for EVICS programs. It was truly a heartwarming evening as friends came together to insure young children in our community have what they need to thrive. EVICS staff, Board of Directors, and families extend a heartfelt thank you for joining us in being a "wild thing" for the evening at the EVICS Art Gala Fundraiser: Where the Wild Things Are!

Event Donors and Sponsors:

John Lynch Wood Turning and Custom Furniture

John Marshall

Beth Headly

Apelles Morales

Cassie Weber

Gail Ellis & Trout Haven Lodge

Ace Hardware

Bank of Colorado

OtterCares

Snowy Peak Winery

Rock Cut Brewery

Lumpy Ridge Brewery

Artist Donations:

Nicole Rische

Lauren Younis

Honey Combs

Laurie Marshall

Julie Speedlin

Heather Gooch

Nadine

Hazel Yarrow

Apelles Morales

Dawn Normali

Dan Marshall

Karen Barnett

Isabel Bloom

Dave Landers

Carolyn Hart

James Frank

Eric Stendsland

Larry Castek

Mary Nelson Zurfluh

Catherine Kervan

Robin Walton

Amy Fox

Herb Thompson

Karen Dick Pottery

Sally Richmond

Park Place Preschool

Roots Community School

Community 4 Kids

Eagle Rock School Former Students

Lifelong Learners of Estes Valley

Red's Enchanted Circle Play School

Ilah Reynar students

Nicole Rische students

AND, numerous community teachers and children who donated amazing art pieces

In addition to other services, EVICS awards over $25,000 a year in childcare scholarships for families in need. The organization depends solely on donations and grants for scholarships and program services. EVICS is a certified 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are 100% tax deductible and qualify for the Colorado Child Care Tax Credit. For more information please contact EVICS at: office@evics.org or call 970.586.3055.

Investing in young children is proven to be one of the best investments community members can make! If you would like to make a year-end gift, please mail your donation to: EVICS, PO Box 3373, Estes Park CO 80517, or give online at www.evics.org

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